Is this Rare?

Chapter 2

I frantically run, barefoot, through the upstairs floor of the house while calling to my friends, who are downstairs, "Does this place have running water at all!?!?" Once I eventually come to the conclusion that no bathroom is going to make an appearance at this hour of night, I trudge back down the stairs, overwhelmed in complete disparity.

Ann meets me at the bottom step, pats me gently on the back and comforts me, "You'll be okay, Chelsea." Which is somewhat unusual for her, she just likes to scare us, trick us, or tease us, most of the time, for fun, that is. Maybe she's just being sarcastic. I reply with a stern glare and Ann just gives a small, but equally sarcastic laugh. We make our way to the living room together and settle down. Ann chooses, well attempts, to sit in the rickety wooden rocking chair that looks as if it is a hundred years old. Seriously though, it looks as if it might shatter under her weight and she's thin. I, on the other hand, choose the floor because I don't trust anything else to support me. That, and I've always had a thing for sitting on the floor.

Maggie, who is perched on the edge of the couch, starts ringing out her thick curly hair, then she asks Jennifer, "Did you bring any extra towels?"

Jenn, standing by the door is also ringing out her pretty redish hair while replying, "Yep, just a sec."

Ann has been scuffling along the outside wall near the floor, in search of something. I'm guessing it's an outlet to plug in this scruffy, old, flickery lamp. I wonder if it even works. If it doesn't, we aren't going to have any light sources besides our phones and flashlights, but those won't last long if we use them constantly.

When I look up, I see Jennifer is crossing the room towards me, holding a fluffy blue towel in her hands. When she reaches my spot on the floor, just by the edge of the couch where Maggie sits, she holds out the towel to me. Gratefully, I take the towel and being to dry my long, blonde hair as I say, "Thank you, Jenn."

Jenn gives me a sorry smile and a soft, "Yep." before she returns to her spot near the door.

Before the silence overtakes us, Maggie breaks out and says, "Has anyone looked through the fridge yet?" She is always the one to think of snacks or food. Either her or me. Or both of us! I'm literally always hungry. I always have snacks with me. Seriously.

Ann replies with another question, "Huh? What fridge?"

Jenn answers both questions, "Yeah, there is a fridge, but this place is a dump and no one lives here. So, there honestly should be anything in it. This is just a cabin that people rent on the rare occasion that people like us want to stay deep in the woods, in the middle of nowhere during a stormy weekend, no less!"

I scoff to myself, "Well, not everyone technically wants to be out in these woods. Or out in a storm in general."

Shrugging her shoulders, Ann says, "I'm going to check."

Maggie called after her, rolling her eyes, "Go ahead."

After Ann has left the room, Maggie says, "You know, Chelsea, no one made you come."

I sigh, "Well, I know. But, you all know I couldn't have not come. I mean, I wanted to. I'm just not thrilled about bring outside. You know me."

"Oh, I'm sure you'll be fine, Chels. You'll, survived for a few days, I'm sure." Jennifer says while patting my back.

I sigh again, "Oh, maybe. I'm just glad to see you all!"

Then, we all exchange stories about ourselves since we all departed. Describing our new worlds, how we suffer though classes and our new methods of doing things, as well as completing school projects without each other's help and advice. I lay on my sleeping bag in the middle of the room. I'm half involved in the conversation and partly dreaming about guys. I know, it's weird, but up hey, it's what I do.

A few minutes later, all our conversations and thoughts are interrupted by the sound of a deep groan coming from the kitchen, "Ewwww!"

As Jenn rushes into the kitchen to see what has happened, Maggie and myself give each other a small laugh because while Jenn is going into the kitchen, she starts limping because the floorboards are so old they've started to splinter. Then, as Jenn runs into the kitchen, the splinter off into her heels and toes.

We, that is Maggie and myself, stay behind because we dislike gross things. Correction, I dislike gross things. All gross things, which is what we both suspected made Ann groan. And, Ann isn't nearly anywhere as squeamish as I am.

Once Jennifer is out of the room and investigating whatever is in the kitchen with Ann, I begin rummaging through our suitcases and duffel bags. For the next 20 minutes I refold my clothes and sort out everyone else's baggage. During this whole time we hear many voices, exclamations, and whispers from the kitchen. But, unfortunately, I can't make out anything, though maggie and I are quite curious.

I layout the other's sleeping bags and settle myself back down on top of mine. I grab my stack of magazines, sprawled out across my sleeping bag, and pass a magazine to Ann, who at some point had come back from the kitchen. Maggie, however, had found the strength to join Jennifer in the kitchen. Either that, or curiosity had just overcome her: most likely the latter.

Ann and I flipped through the magazines as we hear more whispery voices and gasping. I'm still oblivious as to what making them all groan. And, at the moment, I'm not so sure if I want to find out anytime soon.